An oil drilling company drills the same distance each day for 5 days. They started at an elevation of 121.175 feet and ended at an elevation of -246.875 feet.
Which equation can be used to find x, the distance they drilled each day?
A. -5x - 121.175 = -246.875
B. 5x + 121.175 = -246.875
C. -5x + 121.175 = -246.875
D. 5x - 121.175 = 246.875
To find the distance the company drilled each day, we need to calculate the change in elevation from the start to the end. The change in elevation is given by the final elevation minus the initial elevation.
Given that the initial elevation is 121.175 feet and the final elevation is -246.875 feet, the change in elevation is -246.875 - 121.175 = -368.05 feet.
Since they drilled the same distance each day for 5 days, the distance drilled each day is the total change in elevation divided by the number of days, which is -368.05 / 5 = -73.61 feet.
The equation to find x, the distance they drilled each day, is:
5x = -73.61
Therefore, the correct equation is:
B. 5x + 121.175 = -246.875